Dinner Time

Spring Is Near - I can Sense it!!

Melting Snow

Spring is around the corner - green grass, green grass....

Although rumor has it Mother Nature is going to give us a bit of snow tonight - green grass, green grass...

Still Chasing Water Drops

Green Water Drop

I'm still chasing that "Perfect" Water Drop Photo.  I set up in the kitchen sink with a white bowl 1/2 filled with water.  I add food coloring to make the water  different colors.  I then get the faucet to just drip - not too fast - slower is better.


I make note of where the water is hitting and place a pencil in the same spot and manual focus on that spot.  I have a flash on my camera and a remote flash to the left of the bowl.  I am using my 100 MM Macro Lens with a low ISO (100).  Shutter is set f/14 at 1/200 speed to freeze the water drop.  I then fire off about 3 or 4 in succession - any more than that and the flash says "enough already".

Red Water Drop

Art

Anne Bancroft

26 Years ago my spouse and I purchased 7 pieces of art depicting Anne Bancroft, Theda Berra, and the Artist Kathy S.  They have hung in every home we have lived in and are displayed prominently in the living room.  It just wouldn't be our home without this art.

If you can remember back 26 years ago - in the world of graphic arts - there was film you could purchase, cut up and shape to make camera ready art - screens for printing.  That's the material she used...  there was an 8th in the series - one of Lucille Ball with red lips - but it went missing before we acquired the set.

I'm not sure if Kathy follows my Photo A Day Blog or not, but if she does - I just want her to know how much we have enjoyed her work over the years.  Thanks Kathy...

PopCorn

Water Drop

Chasing The Perfect Water Drop

Blue

Framed Eagle Print

Framed Eagle Print

I have printed and framed this eagle photograph to donate to the Habitat for Humanity fundraising auction in March.

The print looks much better than the photograph of the photograph - but you get the idea.  I had museum glass added so the colors and detail in the wings "pop".

I may end up bidding on it myself...

Chubby Cardinal

When You're Tired...

...sometimes you just have to take a power nap.

Chili Judge

As part of our churches annual meeting we had a chili competition.  This is a photo of one of the judges - moments later he spontaneously combusted... it was gooooood chili!!!

Out To Lunch

A Mother's Love

Tootsie Pop Bouquet

Time For Another Squirrel Story

It's Here Somewhere

Tasty!

The Last member of the Maynard Avenue Squirrel Gang was foraging for food yesterday.  He has learned to be careful since the other members of the gang are no longer around to stand watch.  He is ever vigilant as rival gangs roam the neighborhood - the Nasty Blue jay Gang, the Cranky Crow Gang, and the occasional carnivorous Hawk Gang.  Oh and the sometimes Pissed Off Possum wanders through as well.


It's tough to be a lone squirrel. 


He has been seen observing the birds feeding and he has made copious notes as to the location of dropped morsels.  And, when the time is right he scurries out - digs frantically, chomps a bit and then checks around - chomps a bit more - but, what was that?  He doesn't care what it was - better safe then sorry so he scampers off.


He does this routine all day - I hope he meets another single squirrel and then they can revive the Maynard Avenue Gang and share the foraging duties...

What's That I Hear?

Outta Here!

Either Incredibly Early or Late?

Early or Late?

Pep Band

Pep Band Calls It A Night

Scrubbers

Netting Waiting for "The Hook"

Hooked

My spouse makes "scrubbers" for her group at church, "Chat and Sew" and one of their projects is making these kitchen scrubbers.  They are quite the popular item.  It's not uncommon for a mother to come in and buy 20 of them to send to her girls....  They are frequently sold out, as in this week, so production has begun...

Snow Hat

After The Blizzard

Sunrise After The Blizzard

Snow Sculpture

A Good Night To Stay In

Toasty Fire

Cold Rabbit's Feet

Cold Feet

We're in the middle of a blizzard, we're anticipating 10 inches of snow, the wind in blowing 45 MPH and the windchill is WAAAAY below zero and this bunny rabbit looks happy.  He should be - I just watched him feed on the corn the squirrels drop.

He didn't appreciate his picture being taken and hopped off...

Snowy Night

Snowy Night (Again)

Macro Shot of A Lamp Shade

Macro of A Lamp Shade

Indoor Parking Ramp

All Parking Spaces Were Full

No Basket

No Basket

Glass Eagle

Glass eagle

He's Off

Off He Goes

Turbo Blue

I think this car has seen its last mile...

Somebody Is Jealous...

Hey There...

Looks like one of the cardinals is jealous...

Kitty Kat

Sad Eyes

Such sad eyes - I think (he) or (she) was disappointed that the birds were staying away - either that or his (her) butt was cold...!

Light My Fire

Light My Fire

I get excited when I see 1 maybe 2 cardinals at my bird feeder in Waterloo.  At my friends, Tom and Linda, in Burlington, there were literally dozens of cardinals.  It seemed that every where I looked there were cardinals - bluejays, woodpeckers, snow birds, cats, cows, and an eagle even flew by...

Female Cardinal

Eagles Everywhere

 My friends Tom and Linda have welcomed me with open arms, fed me, patched up a cut I managed to give myself, and Tom patiently waiting as I shot at least 600 Eagle photos.  I also have photos of cardinals and a variety of other fowl and architecture.

There was no way I could choose just one so I have put a few over on my Flickr account - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rallenhill/sets/72157625759564517/.  Enjoy the ones here, but take a minute to visit the other site.

I went to the "Eagle Weekend" in Keokuk, Iowa last weekend - evidently the Eagles didn't know it was Eagle Weekend because they have all been hanging out in Burlington.

End of Game Photo(s)

1.9 Seconds - In or Bounce?

Swish - End of Game 1.6 Seconds

I am in Burlington, Iowa this week staying with friends as I wait for my spouse to return from California (by train).  We went to a high school basketball game tonight where I kept busy taking photos... (hold that thought)...

I arrived in Burlington earlier this afternoon and stopped by the Mississippi to see if there were any eagles - and there were, swooping and fishing and I did get some excellent photos.  So, why you might ask is my picture of the day of a basketball game?  Look at the first photo - look at the second.  Mediapolis won at the buzzer.

Oil Painting Rendition of Eagle

Eagle In Flight

A Drift

It Wasn't All Eagles

Church Reflecting the Sunrise

Some Serious Lenses

Some Serious Lenses

Eagles

Great Detail On This One

They Weren't Playing Well Together

Basking In The Sun

Couldn't Resist The Sunrise